M-Net has done the right thing (and the smart thing) and has dumped contestant Jub Jub (Molemo ''Jub Jub'' Maaronhanye) from Wednesday's upcoming Survivor SA Santa Carolina live finale at 19:30 on the pay channel.
Last month I explained RIGHT HERE why it was advisable for M-Net to distance the TV broadcaster from the controversial artist. The past few weeks M-Net has been mum on the issue but has had many discussions behind the scenes, sources tells me. M-Net was also waiting for the legal court case to take its course. Many inside the production of the reality show were secretly hoping that Jub Jub would not be granted bail, thereby taking the decision out of M-Net's hands since the controversial singer would then not have been available anyway.
M-Net as a general entertainment TV channel, as well as provider of premium entertainment to a pay TV audience, didn't want the upcoming Survivor SA Santa Carolina finale to be marred by Jub Jub's presence. M-Net feared a possible viewer backlash as well as the possibility of mass, or any kind of public protest during or before the live finale TV broadcast similar to what happened at Jub Jub's bail hearing court appearances.
I just got this statement from M-Net on booting Jub Jub from the Survivor SA Santa Carolina live finale: ''It is tradition that all Survivor SA contestants attend the reunion show at the end of the series during which the winner is announced. However, due to the recent events in the personal life of the rap singer Jub Jub, M-Net and series producer Endemol SA have decided to exclude him from participation in this live broadcast on Wednesday 21 April 2010. The decision has been taken after careful consideration of a number of issues. These include a possible distraction from the intended focus and format of the series as well as security precautions.''
